I have watched this forum for months. Never officially joined so here goes. I have not bought any fabric for about 4 months and don't intend to buy any until I can see what is actually on my shelves. I am finding things that I bought 2 years ago and intended to use immediately. They have been shoved into the back so far that I forgot they were there. I must, I must use up some of this first. Wish me luck.

Everything in my stash is 2 yrs old or less, except for I think maybe 4 pieces. Those are the ones I found in a box full of craft supplies that I'd kept together because I was making wreaths with candleholders in the middle of them. You know, you cut the fabric into squares with pinking shears & then poke the squares into the wreath with a phillips head screwdriver? I had both Christmas fabric and some American flag fabric, with coordinating solids, that I had stashed away in there & forgot about. I'd just started stashing again in the last 2 yrs though. Before that, I'd been doing a random project here & there & only buying just enough for it & giving away the leftovers for a while. I only really got back sewing regularly when I started making placemats to sell, and next thing I know I had the quilting bug again. Now I have too much going on to make placemats, unless they're requested. Right now I'm sitting on at least a 14 projects that are either waiting to be done or are in some stage of completion. 4 of them have to be ready to go to Denmark by Friday when the man's brother arrives, plus I have to turn my sewing room back into the guest room by then.

Right now I'm sitting on at least a 14 projects that are either waiting to be done or are in some stage of completion. 4 of them have to be ready to go to Denmark by Friday when the man's brother arrives, plus I have to turn my sewing room back into the guest room by then.

Good luck with all of that. I know you can do it AND you will be an inspiration to the rest of us.

I decided it was time for me to do an update, so here goes: I didn't put myself on a complete moratorium, just a budget. I've done pretty well although last month I lost track of what/when/etc. I went to a Bonnie Hunter weekend in July and seeing her quilts up close made me realize how boring my neutrals are, so I've been picking up a lot of interesting patterned neutrals in FQ or 1/4 yards and cutting them into various strip sizes, but I've been paying attention to price. I've discovered that although some fabrics at WM and HL aren't good quality, some are and they are significantly less expensive than my LQS.

Later this month I'm going to Lancaster for a few days. I'll probably pick up more FQ's but I don't really need or have an interest in buying large quantities. I think I'll be content to browse and just enjoy the creativity of other people's work. I love having my fabric organized. It has shown me how much I already have. Whenever I see a new quilt now, my mind usually goes to all the fabrics I already have and how I could use them to make something similar.

I have most of my fabric stored in boxes by project. My daughter's quilt fabric is in about 6 boxes, i always buy more than i think i will need, and the pattern is in the top box. I think i remember where i put those boxes, but I'm not positive. I'll start looking for it tomorrow! I just have one project to finish and one to do before i can start her quilt.
i'm pretty excited about it!